Kazumi was headed to check up on the lead they had found on Cheung's computer yesterday. They had brought a holocorder so Kazumi could grab proof to show that Cheung was here but now was just a matter of seeing him to confirm it.

Lazumi approached the building and sized it up for approach sticking to the shadows and just seeing what their options were for getting a look inside.

The neighbourhood of Cheung's late-aunt wasn't spectacular in the slightest. It seems that she found her residence in one of the few mega-living blocks in the area with a series of apartment buildings linked together to form a communal courtyard at the centre. Even on a day where there is sun and it's obvious from the courtyard's sky, the building still manages to cast a constant ominous shadow over its residents. The courtyard hosts many shops, markets, and restaurants that would make the building an almost self-sustainable ecosystem, outside of the few necessities in life. Many of the balconies face each other and many of the residents are out and about, dealing with the heat in various ways as power is cut from the district.

The apartment in question was visible from the ground, located on the fifth floor. The door is closed, along with the metal screen atop of it and the few windows it had were covered with tinfoil.

This time Ono was on his time. He was chilling next to the trash bin across the street from the entrance of the building. He didn't look like himself since the Air kami favored him.

D7 LM Insight Rank/Air to cast Mask of Wind [Air 3 (Illusion)], Voided | 7k4 ⇒ 39 (TN: 20)

But since the Air kami are known for their frivolity, Ono had also disguised himself to look the part.

D7 LM Acting/Awareness to act as a hobo, 1 raise due to caste difference, 1 raise for effect | 5k4+3 ⇒ 26 (TN: 25)

Seeing the Soshi approaching the building he whistle a tune that any Scorpion would know.

[OOC: Active Spells: Benten's Touch (He used the paper ward), Mask of Air (to look like a random hobo)

Kazumi heard the whistling tune and turned toward the source walking over and raising an eyebrow "can I help you heimen?" They asked

The hobo made a bow.

"Soshi-sama, you honor this one with your attention." He responded in a faked voice.

"But no, this one would no presume to request anything from Soshi-sama." He continued with his normal voice.

"I must admit that I am impressed. Watching you getting here on your own was entertaining." He smiled and reached for a paper piece in his sleeve.

"Carry this on you. It will make corrupting spirit uncomfortable around you." He explained as he offered it to the other Scorpion.

Kazumi was confused for only a few moments while they connected dots. No heimen shugenja would be begging on street corners and the much more likely conclusion was the odd Yogo that was to be partnering with them. The voice change confirmed it

Kazumi nodded taking the ward "Thank you." They tucked it into their sleeve "I'm going to try Sneaking in and confirming our target is there without spooking them. They haven't made it easy Fifth floor and tin foiled windows I'll have to actually break into the building to confirm things."

While on the fifth floor, it would be easy to make their way inside without too much trouble. Considering the majority heimen residents here, security was light. Naturally, Soshi Kazumi would stick out in a seat of heimen here but they were more than happy to leave the Scorpion to their own devices and not hassle them in the slightest.

Really? You have to actually break into the building

"Why don't you let me handle this?" He suggested.

"Just keep an eye from here." He expanded.

"Those are simple people used to their routine and people like themselves. You are not like them. You are and look like a samurai."

[OOC: Unless the Soshi tries to restrain him, Ono goes up by the staircase. Please inform if there is no access through a staircase to the fifth floor.]

There was absolutely access to the fifth floor. The staircase was accessible from the inner courtyard and Ono would make his way without anyone stopping him. There were a few security cameras installed, although it would be discernable at a glance if they were on or just for show. Cameras were commonplace around the city but sometimes heimen weren't worth it. The apartment seems dormant, with no signs of lights as the power was off, for the time being, and funneled to more important places in the city. There were, however, two trash bags just sitting outside.

He looked left and then right. He cracked his neck and started looking into the trash.

D7 LM Investigation/Perception to search the bags of rubbish for anything interesting, TN unknown, 1 raise for effect | 4k3-5 ⇒ 14 (TN: ?)

[OOC: In case you want a different roll for each bag let me know.]

Once done with this literally dirty deed, he took a deep breath, stepped into the darkness and used the paper scraps and activated them.

[OOC: Active Spells: Benten's Touch (He used the paper ward), Mask of Air (to look like a random hobo), By the Light of the Moon (2 raises for the increased area), and Ward of Purity.]

Digging in the trash was as glorious as it sounded, Ono would open the bags and be created by the clattering of various canned goods. There were a few self-heating cups of noodles with the contents eaten up. It looked like someone might have missed garbage day, although the communal incinerator chute was just by the stairs. He could have just taken a few steps to throw out his stuff. Judging by some of the cans, they were recent enough that there are still some residual stains found in a few of them.

Kazumi shrugged and let the shugenja about his business, if he thought he could confirm that Cheung was here without breaking in or spending all day watching the place then Kazumi wouldn't stop him.

He expected something completely different in the way that the air kami would assist him in his investigation, but apparently, they were acting funny.

Whatever... Someone is in there.

He whistled a tune from some popular Scorpion song. The lyrics went like:

'Cause I'm in too deep, and I'm trying to keep
Up above in my head, instead of going under

The Soshi should understand that I am going in.

Then acting like a hobo looking for a place to crash, he went in.

[OOC: Active Spells: Benten's Touch (He used the paper ward), Mask of Air (to look like a random hobo), By the Light of the Moon (2 raises for the increased area), and Ward of Purity.]

The front doors of the apartment were closed with the metal screen in front of it locked. The windows were reinforced in any fashion but were lined up to block the line of sight from within the apartment. Wandering around would indeed reveal a back 'alley' for this set of apartments. It doesn't have a second door but does have a few windows that unfortunately face only a narrow hallway with concrete walls. If Ono was going to go in, he would either have to break in or knock.

He knocked.

There was a stillness that followed the knock at first, only broken by faint sides of rustling before a tense quiet set in again. This could be heard through the windows, despite the effort to cover them. Ultimately, nobody would open or acknowledge the knock.

He shrugged.

"Samas, there are Magistrates on the street." He said loud enough to be heard inside but also below.

"You need to run, I will distract them as long as I can."

There was a long bout of silence that followed after Ono delivered his message at the door. It would almost seem like it either wasn't noticed or it was entirely ignored, the occupant inside comfortable with maintaining their cover.

However, there was some stirring as the inside of the apartment came to life. The sound of frantic shuffling could be heard with the clattering of objects hastily pulled from their place, perhaps some quick searching to be done. The sound of tin foil being ripped and the window nudged open.

From the windows facing the back alleyway of the apartment emerged a man, climbing out like he was escaping a burning building in haste. He might have looked a bit on the handsome side if he cleaned up but the last few days of being on the run had quickly made him look haggard with much stubble on his face.


Cheung

The ronin named Cheung clumsily pulled himself through the opening of the window and rolled out to meet the concrete floor, towing a duffle back full of things along with him. He let out a groan at the landing as several shadows of people gathered around him. It seemed like they had been waiting for Cheung to show his face.

One of the figures stepped forward with a smug smirk on his face.



"Heh, we've been looking everywhere for you, Cheung. Kinda worried about you. I heard you got something of ours. Now, you're going to give it back," he told him before unceremoniously kicking him on the side. His follower immediately got to work on subduing the prone ronin likewise with brute force...

/scene